System and Method for Preambles in a Wireless Communications Network

ABSTRACT

A method for transmitting a frame includes generating an omni portion of the frame, the omni portion including a non-beamformed long training field and a signal field, the non-beamformed long training field including channel estimation information used to decode the signal field, the non-beamformed long training field configured to be transmitted through one of multiple antennas and multiple streams. The method also includes generating a multi-stream portion of the frame, the multi-stream portion including a data field and a multi-stream long training field, the multi-stream long training field including station-specific decoding information for station-specific data in the data field. The method further includes applying a beamforming indicator to the signal field of the omni portion, and transmitting the frame.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/567,777, filed on Dec. 7, 2011, entitled “System and Method forSingle User Preamble for Wireless Local Area Networks,” and U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/576,614, filed on Dec. 16, 2011, entitled“System and Method for Single User Preamble for Wireless Local AreaNetworks,” which applications are hereby incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to digital communications, andmore particularly to a system and method for preambles in a wirelesscommunications network.

BACKGROUND

IEEE 802.11 is a set of standards for implementing wireless local areanetwork (WLAN). In IEEE 802.11 physical (PHY) layer frame format, thepreamble part is usually composed of three fields: a short trainingfield (STF), a long training field (LTF), and a signal field (SIG). TheSTF is used for coarse synchronization, automatic gain control (AGC),and the like. The LTF is used for channel estimation, finesynchronization, etc. The SIG is used to indicate the information of theframe; rate, length, and the like. As IEEE 802.11 WLAN technologyevolves, a preamble design for IEEE 802.11ah is needed for its ownnetwork environment.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Example embodiments of the present disclosure which provide a system andmethod for preambles in a wireless communications network.

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure, amethod for method for transmitting a frame is provided. The methodincludes generating, by an access point, an omni portion of the frame,the omni portion including a non-beamformed long training field and asignal field, the non-beamformed long training field including channelestimation information used to decode the signal field, thenon-beamformed long training field configured to be transmitted throughone of multiple antennas and multiple streams. The method also includesgenerating, by the access point, a multi-stream portion of the frame,the multi-stream portion including a data field and a multi-stream longtraining field, the multi-stream long training field includingstation-specific decoding information for station-specific data in thedata field. The method further includes applying, by the access point, abeamforming indicator to the signal field of the omni portion, andtransmitting, by the access point, the frame.

In accordance with another example embodiment of the present disclosure,a method for receiving a frame is provided. The method includesreceiving, by a station, an omni portion of the frame, the omni portionincludes a non-beamformed long training field and a signal field, thenon-beamformed long training field including channel estimationinformation used to decode the signal field. The method also includesdetermining, by the station, a beamform status of a multi-stream portionof the frame, and receiving, by the station, the multi-stream portion ofthe frame, the multi-stream portion including a multi-stream longtraining field and a data field, the multi-stream long training fieldincluding station-specific decoding information for station-specificdata in the data field. The method further includes decoding, by thestation, the multi-stream portion of the frame using a techniquecommensurate with the beamform status of the multi-stream portion of theframe.

In accordance with another example embodiment of the present disclosure,a transmitting device is provided. The transmitting device includes aprocessor, and a transmitter operatively coupled to the processor. Theprocessor generates an omni portion of a frame, the omni portionincluding a non-beamformed long training field and a signal field, thenon-beamformed long training field including channel estimationinformation used to decode the signal field, the non-beamformed longtraining field to be transmitted through one of multiple antennas andmultiple streams. The processor generates a multi-stream portion of theframe, the multi-stream portion including a data field and amulti-stream long training field, the multi-stream long training fieldincluding station-specific decoding information for station-specificdata in the data field, and applies a beamforming indicator to thesignal field of the omni portion. The transmitter transmits the frame.

In accordance with another example embodiment of the present disclosure,a receiving device is provided. The receiving device includes areceiver, and a processor operatively coupled to the receiver. Thereceiver receives an omni portion of a frame, the omni portion includesa non-beamformed long training field and a signal field, thenon-beamformed long training field including channel estimationinformation used to decode the signal field, and receives a multi-streamportion of the frame, the multi-stream portion including a multi-streamlong training field and a data field, the multi-stream long trainingfield including station-specific decoding information forstation-specific data in the data field. The processor determines abeamform status of the multi-stream portion of the frame, and decodesthe multi-stream portion of the frame using a technique commensuratewith the beamform status of the multi-stream portion of the frame.

One advantage of an embodiment is that the preamble supports beamformingand/or non-beamforming while allowing non-destination stations, e.g.,non-intended recipients, to decode at least a portion of the preamble.The ability of the non-destination stations to decode a portion of thepreamble may help to improve the overall performance of thenon-destination stations and the overall wireless communicationsnetwork.

A further advantage of an embodiment is that a source of the preamblemay be able to use beamforming to transmit to a destination station,e.g., an intended recipient, to improve transmission performance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, and theadvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptionstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example communications network according toexample embodiments described herein;

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b illustrate example PHY frames according to exampleembodiments described herein;

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b illustrate example PHY frames, wherein the PHY framesare separated into multiple portions according to example embodimentsdescribed herein;

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b illustrate example PHY frames, wherein the PHY framesinclude beamforming indicators according to example embodimentsdescribed herein;

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b illustrate example constellation diagrams of BPSK andQBPSK, respectively according to example embodiments described herein;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example flow diagram of operations in transmittinga PHY frame according to example embodiments described herein;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example flow diagram of operations in receiving aPHY frame according to example embodiments described herein;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example diagram of a first communications deviceaccording to example embodiments described herein; and

FIG. 9 illustrates an example diagram of a second communications deviceaccording to example embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The operating of the current example embodiments and the structurethereof are discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated,however, that the present disclosure provides many applicable inventiveconcepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts.The specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specificstructures of the disclosure and ways to operate the disclosure, and donot limit the scope of the disclosure.

One embodiment of the disclosure relates to preambles. For example, at atransmitting device, the transmitting device generates an omni portionof a frame, the omni portion including a non-beamformed long trainingfield and a signal field, the non-beamformed long training fieldincluding channel estimation information used to decode the signalfield, the non-beamformed long training field configured to betransmitted through one of multiple streams and multiple antennas. Thetransmitting device also generates a multi-stream portion of the frame,the multi-stream portion including a data field and a multi-stream longtraining field, the multi-stream long training field includingstation-specific decoding information for station-specific data in thedata field. The transmitting device further applies a beamformingindicator to the signal field of the omni portion, and transmits theframe. As another example, at a receiving device, the receiving devicereceives an omni portion of a frame, the omni portion includes anon-beamformed long training field located before a signal field, thenon-beamformed long training field including channel estimationinformation used to decode the signal field. The receiving devicereceives a multi-stream portion of the frame, the multi-stream portionincluding a multi-stream long training field and a data field, themulti-stream long training field including station-specific decodinginformation for station-specific data in the data field. The receivingdevice also determines a beamform status, e.g., beamformed ornon-beamformed, of the multi-stream portion of the frame, and decodesthe multi-stream portion of the frame using a technique commensuratewith the beamform status of the multi-stream portion of the frame.

The present disclosure will be described with respect to exampleembodiments in a specific context, namely an IEEE 802.11ah compliantwireless communications network that supports beamforming. Thedisclosure may also be applied, however, to other standards compliantand non-standards compliant communications systems that supportbeamformed and non-beamformed transmissions.

FIG. 1 illustrates a communications network 100. Communications network100 may be IEEE 802.11ah compliant. Communications network 100 includesan access point 105, which serves a plurality of stations, such asstations 110-132. The plurality of stations may include communicationsdevices, such as cellular telephones, smart telephones, personal digitalassistants, and the like, computers, such as PCs, laptops, tablets,printers, scanners, and the like, media devices, such as televisions,music players, video displays, media distribution centers, and the like,sensor devices, such as weather sensor, fire sensors, medical sensors,auto sensors, security sensors, and the like.

In a single user scenario, access point 105 may transmit to a singlestation, e.g., a destination station. However, other stations, e.g.,non-destination stations, served by access point 105 may also receivethe transmission and attempt to decode at least a portion of thetransmission. Information determined by the non-destination stations indecoding the transmission not intended for them may help to improve theoverall performance of communications network 100.

Some of the stations served by access point 105 have relatively highdata requirements, such as the communications devices, and thecomputers, while others may have small data requirements, such as thesensor devices. The stations having high data requirements may benefitfrom advanced transmission techniques, such as beamforming, multipleantenna technology, and the like. The stations having low datarequirements may not benefit from such advanced transmission techniques.Furthermore, many of the stations with low data requirements are alsopower limited and typical processing requirements involved with theadvanced transmission techniques may severely tax power consumptionlimits of these devices and shorten their battery life.

In IEEE 802.11 WLAN, a preamble is appended in a signal frame of theIEEE 802.11 WLAN physical layer. The preamble is composed of shorttraining fields (STFs), long training fields (LTFs), and signal (SIG)fields, which provide synchronization, channel estimationfunctionalities, and contain information such as the rate and the lengthof the frame. As IEEE 802.11 WLAN evolves with multi-antennatechnologies, these preamble formats have changed accordingly. Abeamforming steering matrix may also be applied to the preambles as wellas data field. However, some information in the SIG field is needed byall stations operating in the IEEE 802.11 network, which may make itharder to beamform the preamble since it may be difficult for stationsthat are not the intended recipient of the transmission (i.e., thepreamble) to decode the transmission.

FIG. 2 a illustrates a first physical layer (PHY) frame 200. PHY frame200 may be used in a single user, 2 MHz or greater bandwidth scenario.PHY frame 200 includes a preamble 205 and a data region 210. Preamble205 includes a STF 215, and a first LTF (LTF1) 217 that comprises adouble guard interval (DGI) 219, a first long training sequence (LTS)221, and a second LTS 223. PHY frame 200 also includes a SIG field 225,and a plurality of N-1 LTFs (LTF2-LTFN) 227-229, where N is a number ofspatial streams. Spatial mapping is used in the LTFs of PHY frame 200.LTF1 217 may be two symbols long and is located before SIG field 225.LTF2-LTFN 227-229 may be one symbol each and located after SIG field225.

In general, spatial mapping has four categories: direct mapping,indirect mapping, spatial expansion, and beamforming. LTF1 217 andLTF2-LTFN 227-229 may use a single spatial mapping method. Therefore, asshown in FIG. 2 a, the LTFs of PHY frame 200 may be non-beamformed orbeamformed. It is noted that if LTF1 217 is beamformed, non-destinationstations may fail to decode SIG field 225. However, some of the contentof PHY frame 200 may be needed by all stations, not just the destinationstation. FIG. 2 b illustrates a second PHY frame 250. PHY frame 250 maybe similar to PHY frame 200 with a second SIG field (SIGB) 265. As withPHY frame 200, PHY frame 250 may be non-beamformed or beamformed.

It may be possible to separate a PHY frame into multiple portions, witha first portion being a non-beamformed portion easily decoded by allstations and a second portion that is capable of being beamformed ornon-beamformed, depending on performance requirements and/orcapabilities of the destination station. The first and non-beamformedportion may contain information usable by all stations, while the secondand possibly beamformed portion may contain information intended for thedestination station.

FIG. 3 a illustrates a third PHY frame 300, wherein PHY frame 300 isseparated into multiple portions. PHY frame 300 includes an omni portion305 that is non-beamformed and may be decoded by all stations, and amulti-stream portion 310 that may or may not be beamformed. Ifnon-beamformed, multi-stream portion 310 may be decoded by all stations.If beamformed, multi-stream portion 310 may be difficult to decode bystations other than the destination station. It is noted thatmulti-stream portion 310 may include a data portion 315 of PHY frame300.

Omni portion 305 may include a STF 320, a LTF 322, and a first SIG field(SIGA) 324. Since omni portion 305 is non-beamformed, all stations maydecode it, and LTF 322 may be used to help in the decoding of SIGA 324.Multi-stream portion 310 may include its own STF (AH-STF) 326, aplurality of N LTFs (AH-LTF1-AH-LTFN) 328-330, and a second SIG field(SIGB) 332. Content of multi-stream portion 310 may be intended forexclusive use of the destination station. AH-LTF1-AH-LTFN 328-330 may beused by the destination station to help in the decoding of SIGB 332and/or data portion 315.

FIG. 3 b illustrates a fourth PHY frame 350, wherein PHY frame 350 isseparated into multiple portions. PHY frame 350 includes an omni portion355 that is non-beamformed and may be decoded by all stations, and amulti-stream portion 360 that may or may not be beamformed. It is notedthat multi-stream portion 360 may include a data portion 365 of PHYframe 350.

Omni portion 355 may include a STF 370, a LTF (LTF0) 372, and a SIGfield (SIGA) 374. Since omni portion 355 is non-beamformed, all stationsmay decode it, and LTF 372 may be used to help in the decoding of SIGA374. Multi-stream portion 360 may include a plurality of N LTFs(LTF1-LTFN) 376-378. Content of multi-stream portion 360 may be intendedfor exclusive use of the destination station. LTF1-LTFN 376-378 may beused by the destination station to help in the decoding of data portion365.

It is noted that since the multi-stream portion, e.g., multi-streamportion 310 and/or multi-stream portion 360, may or may not bebeamformed, the destination station may need to know a beamform statusof the multi-stream portion. A beamforming indicator may be used toindicate the beamform status of the multi-stream portion.

According to an example embodiment, a beamforming indicator located in aSIG field of an omni portion of a PHY frame may be used to indicate thebeamform status of the multi-stream portion of the PHY frame. As anexample, a bit or multiple bits of the SIG field may be used as thebeamforming indicator. As an example, the beamforming indicator locatedin the SIG field may be set to a first value, e.g., a 1, to indicatethat the multi-stream portion is beamformed. As an example, thebeamforming indicator located in the SIG field may be set to a secondvalue, e.g., a 0, to indicate that the multi-stream portion isnon-beamformed. FIG. 4 a illustrates a PHY frame 400 wherein abeamforming indicator 410 of a SIG field 405 set to a first valueindicates that a multi-stream portion of PHY frame 400 is beamformed.FIG. 4 b illustrates a PHY frame 450 wherein a beamforming indicator 460of a SIG field 455 set to a second value indicates that a multi-streamportion of PHY frame 450 is non-beamformed.

As an illustrative example, in an IEEE 802.11ah compliant communicationssystem, if the beamforming indicator is set to a value of 1, a Q matrixis changed, while if the beamforming indicator is set to a value of 0,the Q matrix is unchanged. It is noted that the values may be reversed.

According to another example embodiment, signal intensity may be used toindicate the beamform status of the multi-stream portion of the PHYframe. Intensity detection may be used to detect signal intensity atdifferent axes to detect the value of the beamforming indicator. As anexample, either binary phase shift keying (BPSK) or quadrature binaryphase shift keying (QBPSK) modulation may be employed in the SIG fieldor part of the SIG field to indicate the value of the beamformingindicator. As an example, BPSK may be used to indicate that themulti-stream portion is beamformed and QBPSK may be used to indicatethat the multi-stream portion is non-beamformed.

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b illustrate a constellation diagram of BPSK and QBPSK,respectively. Intensity detection may use intensity of signal(s) atdifferent axes to detect the beamforming indicator. It is noted that theI and/or Q axes are used as an illustrative examples. Consider |E_(I)|²and |E_(Q)|² as the signal intensity in the I and Q axes, respectively,where E is a complex number representing the signal intensity of thereceived signal, and E_(I) and E_(Q) are the real and imaginary parts ofE, respectively. There may be different intensity distributions fordifferent modulations. For BPSK, |E_(I)|² is positive and |E_(Q)|²| iszero. For QBPSK, |E_(I)|² is zero and |E_(Q)|² is positive. As anexample of using intensity detection for indicating beamform status ofthe multi-stream portion, consider the following: Let BPSK be used foreither the SIG field or part of the SIG field to indicate a beamformedmulti-stream portion, and QBPSK be used for either the SIG field or partof the SIG field to indicate a non-beamformed multi-stream portion. Itis noted that the opposite designations may be used as well. After thedestination station receives the SIG field, it can deduce the modulationtype through a criterion, such as |E_(I)|²-|E_(Q)|². If|E_(I)|²-|E_(Q)|²>0, it means BPSK is used in the SIG field or a portionof the SIG field and the multi-stream portion is beamformed. If|E_(I)|²-|E_(Q)|²<0, it means QBPSK is used in the SIG field or aportion of the SIG field and the multi-stream portion is non-beamformed.Other modulation techniques, such as higher level modulations, and/ordifferent criteria can also be used in intensity detection.

Table 1 illustrates a feature comparison chart, where HT-MM is an IEEE802.11n mixed-mode preamble, Q is the beamforming steering matrix, D isthe cyclic delay diversity (CDD), and P is the orthogonal mappingmatrix.

TABLE 1 Feature Comparison Chart. Q D P HT-MM NO YES NO Existing802.11ah Preamble YES YES YES Example Embodiments YES YES YES

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of operations 600 in transmitting aPHY frame. Operations 600 may be indicative of operations occurring in atransmitting device, e.g., an access point, such as access point 105, asthe access point transmits a PHY frame to a destination station. The PHYframe includes multiple portions, with an omni portion that is notbeamformed and is decodable by all stations and a multi-stream portionthat may or may not be beamformed intended for a destination station.

Operations 600 may begin with the access point generating an omniportion of the PHY frame (block 605). The omni portion of the PHY framemay include a non-beamformed LTF and SIG field, with the non-beamformedLTF including channel estimation information used to decode the signalfield. The non-beamformed LTF may be transmitted over a single spacetime stream.

The access point may generate a multi-stream portion of the PHY frame(block 610). The multi-stream portion may include a multi-stream LTF anda data field and is intended for a destination station. The multi-streamLTF may contain station-specific decoding information for use by thedestination station. The multi-stream portion may or may not bebeamformed.

The access point may apply a beamforming indicator to the SIG field ofthe omni portion of the PHY frame (block 615). According to an exampleembodiment, applying the beamforming indicator may include setting oneor more bits in the SIG field of the omni portion of the PHY frame to avalue corresponding to a beamform status of the multi-stream portion ofthe PHY frame. As an example, the bit(s) may be set to a first value ifthe multi-stream portion is beamformed and a second value if themulti-stream portion is non-beamformed. According to another exampleembodiment, applying the beamforming indicator may include applying amodulation technique commensurate with the beamform status of themulti-stream portion of the PHY frame to the SIG field or a portion ofthe SIG field. As an example, a BPSK modulation technique may be appliedto the SIG field or a portion thereof if the multi-stream portion isbeamformed and a QBPSK modulation technique may be applied to the SIGfield or a portion thereof if the multi-stream portion isnon-beamformed. The PHY frame may be transmitted (block 620).

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of operations 700 in receiving a PHYframe. Operations 700 may be indicative of operations occurring in areceiving device, e.g., a station, such as a destination station, as thestation receives a PHY frame from an access point. The PHY frameincludes multiple portions, with an omni portion that is not beamformedand is decodable by all stations and a multi-stream portion that may ormay not be beamformed intended for the destination station.

Operations 700 may begin with the station receiving an omni portion ofthe PHY frame (block 705). Since the omni portion is non-beamformed, thestation may be able to decode the omni portion of the PHY frame (block710). The station may use a LTF in the omni portion of the PHY frame tohelp it decode a SIG field. The station may perform a check to determineif it is the destination station of the omni portion (as well as asubsequent multi-stream portion) (block 715). If the station is not thedestination station, the station may stop with the decoding of the omniportion of the PHY frame.

If the station is the destination station, the station may perform acheck to determine if the multi-stream portion is beamformed, i.e., thestation determines the beamform status of the multi-stream portion ofthe PHY frame (block 720). As discussed previously, the station maydetermine the beamform status of the multi-stream portion by examining abeamforming indicator. The beamforming indicator may be in the form ofone or more bits in the SIG field of the omni portion. The beamformingindicator may also be in the form of a modulation technique used for theSIG field or a portion of the SIG field.

If the multi-stream portion is not beamformed, the station may receivethe non-beamformed multi-stream portion (block 725) and decode thenon-beamformed multi-stream portion (block 730). If the multi-streamportion is beamformed, the station may receive the beamformedmulti-stream portion (block 735) and decode the beamformed multi-streamportion (block 740).

FIG. 8 illustrates a diagram of a first communications device 800.Communications device 800 may be an implementation of an access point(or more generally, a transmitting device) of a communications system.Communications device 800 may be used to implement various ones of theembodiments discussed herein. As shown in FIG. 8, a transmitter 805 isconfigured to send messages, and the like, and a receiver 810 isconfigured to receive messages, and the like. Transmitter 805 andreceiver 810 may have a wireless interface, a wireline interface, or acombination thereof.

A frame generating unit 820 is configured to generate a PHY frame, whichincludes an omni portion and a multi-stream portion. The omni portionincludes a beamforming indicator of the beamform status of themulti-stream portion. A frame applying unit 822 is configured to applythe beamforming indicator to the omni portion. Frame applying unit 822may set one or more bits in a SIG field in the omni portion to indicatethe beamform status of the multi-stream portion or apply a modulationtechnique commensurate to the beamform status of the multi-streamportion to the SIG field or a portion thereof. A memory 830 isconfigured to store PHY frames, beamform status, beamforming indicators,and the like.

The elements of communications device 800 may be implemented as specifichardware logic blocks. In an alternative, the elements of communicationsdevice 800 may be implemented as software executing in a processor,controller, application specific integrated circuit, or so on. In yetanother alternative, the elements of communications device 800 may beimplemented as a combination of software and/or hardware.

As an example, transmitter 805 and receiver 810 may be implemented as aspecific hardware block, while frame generating unit 820 and frameapplying unit 822 may be software modules executing in a processor 815,such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, a custom circuit,or a custom compiled logic array of a field programmable logic array.Additionally, frame generating unit 820 and frame applying unit 822 maybe software modules stored in memory 830.

FIG. 9 illustrates a diagram of a second communications device 900.Communications device 900 may be an implementation of station (or moregenerally, a receiving device) of a communications system.Communications device 900 may be used to implement various ones of theembodiments discussed herein. As shown in FIG. 9, a transmitter 905 isconfigured to send messages, and the like, and a receiver 910 isconfigured to receive messages, and the like. Transmitter 905 andreceiver 910 may have a wireless interface, a wireline interface, or acombination thereof.

A frame decoding unit 920 is configured to decode a frame or a portionof a frame. A recipient determining unit 922 is configured to determineif communications device 900 to determine if it is the destinationstation of the frame. A beamforming determining unit 924 is configuredto determine if a frame is beamformed, i.e., determines the beamformstatus of the frame. Beamforming determining unit 924 determines thebeamform status by examining a beamforming indicator, which may be inthe form of one or more bits of a frame or a modulation technique usedto modulate a field or a portion thereof. A memory 930 is configured tostore frames, beamform status, beamforming indicators, and the like.

The elements of communications device 900 may be implemented as specifichardware logic blocks. In an alternative, the elements of communicationsdevice 900 may be implemented as software executing in a processor,controller, application specific integrated circuit, or so on. In yetanother alternative, the elements of communications device 900 may beimplemented as a combination of software and/or hardware.

As an example, transmitter 905 and receiver 910 may be implemented as aspecific hardware block, while frame decoding unit 920, recipientdetermining unit 922, and beamforming determining unit 924 may besoftware modules executing in a processor 915, such as a microprocessor,a digital signal processor, a custom circuit, or a custom compiled logicarray of a field programmable logic array. Additionally, frame decodingunit 920, recipient determining unit 922, and beamforming determiningunit 924 may be software modules stored in memory 930.

Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been describedin detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutionsand alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for transmitting a frame, the methodcomprises: generating, by an access point, an omni portion of the frame,the omni portion including a non-beamformed long training field and asignal field, the non-beamformed long training field including channelestimation information used to decode the signal field, thenon-beamformed long training field configured to be transmitted throughone of multiple antennas and multiple streams; generating, by the accesspoint, a multi-stream portion of the frame, the multi-stream portionincluding a data field and a multi-stream long training field, themulti-stream long training field including station-specific decodinginformation for station-specific data in the data field; applying, bythe access point, a beamforming indicator to the signal field of theomni portion; and transmitting, by the access point, the frame.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the multi-stream portion is located after theomni portion.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the beamformingindicator comprises setting a status indicator in the signal field. 4.The method of claim 3, wherein the status indicator is set to a firstvalue if the multi-stream portion is beamformed, and wherein the statusindicator is set to a second value if the multi-stream portion is notbeamformed.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the status indicator is aone or more bit long indicator.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinapplying the beamforming indicator comprises using signal intensity atdifferent axes of a representation of a modulation symbol of a subset ofthe signal field to apply the beamforming indicator.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein applying the beamforming indicator comprises modulatinga subset of the signal field.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein thesubset of the signal field is modulated using a first modulationtechnique if the multi-stream portion is beamformed, and wherein thesubset of the signal field is modulated using a second modulationtechnique if the multi-stream portion is not beamformed.
 9. The methodof claim 8, wherein the first modulation technique is binary phase shiftkeying, and wherein the second modulation technique is quadrature binaryphase shift keying.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-streamportion is transmitted through multiple antennas and multiple streams.11. The method of claim 1, wherein the frame is an IEEE 802.11ah frame.12. A method for receiving a frame, the method comprising: receiving, bya station, an omni portion of the frame, the omni portion includes anon-beamformed long training field and a signal field, thenon-beamformed long training field including channel estimationinformation used to decode the signal field; determining, by thestation, a beamform status of a multi-stream portion of the frame;receiving, by the station, the multi-stream portion of the frame, themulti-stream portion including a multi-stream long training field and adata field, the multi-stream long training field includingstation-specific decoding information for station-specific data in thedata field; and decoding, by the station, the multi-stream portion ofthe frame using a technique commensurate with the beamform status of themulti-stream portion of the frame.
 13. The method of claim 12, whereindetermining the beamform status comprises examining a status indicatorlocated in the signal field of the omni portion.
 14. The method of claim13, wherein the status indicator is set to a first value if themulti-stream portion is beamformed, and wherein the status indicator isset to a second value if the multi-stream portion is not beamformed. 15.The method of claim 12, wherein determining the beamform statuscomprises examining signal intensity of a subset of the signal field ofthe omni portion.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein examining thesignal intensity comprises determining a modulation technique used forthe subset of the signal field.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein themulti-stream portion is beamformed if the subset of the signal field ismodulated using a first modulation technique, and wherein themulti-stream portion is non-beamformed if the subset of the signal fieldis modulated using a second modulation technique.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the first modulation technique is binary phase shiftkeying, and wherein the second modulation technique is quadrature binaryphase shift keying.
 19. A transmitting device comprising: a processorconfigured to generate an omni portion of a frame, the omni portionincluding a non-beamformed long training field and a signal field, thenon-beamformed long training field including channel estimationinformation used to decode the signal field, the non-beamformed longtraining field to be transmitted through one of multiple antennas andmultiple streams, to generate a multi-stream portion of the frame, themulti-stream portion including a data field and a multi-stream longtraining field, the multi-stream long training field includingstation-specific decoding information for station-specific data in thedata field, and to apply a beamforming indicator to the signal field ofthe omni portion; and a transmitter operatively coupled to theprocessor, the transmitter configured to transmit the frame.
 20. Thetransmitting device of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured toset a status indicator in the signal field.
 21. The transmitting deviceof claim 19, wherein the processor is configured to use signal intensityat different axes of a representation of a modulation symbol of a subsetof the signal field to apply the beamforming indicator.
 22. Thetransmitting device of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured tomodulate a subset of the signal field.
 23. The transmitting device ofclaim 22, wherein the subset of the signal field is modulated using afirst modulation technique if the multi-stream portion is beamformed,and wherein the subset of the signal field is modulated using a secondmodulation technique if the multi-stream portion is not beamformed. 24.The transmitting device of claim 19, wherein the transmitting device isan IEEE 802.11ah access point.
 25. A receiving device comprising: areceiver configured to receive an omni portion of a frame, the omniportion includes a non-beamformed long training field and a signalfield, the non-beamformed long training field including channelestimation information used to decode the signal field, and to receive amulti-stream portion of the frame, the multi-stream portion including amulti-stream long training field and a data field, the multi-stream longtraining field including station-specific decoding information forstation-specific data in the data field; and a processor operativelycoupled to the receiver, the processor configured to determine abeamform status of the multi-stream portion of the frame, and to decodethe multi-stream portion of the frame using a technique commensuratewith the beamform status of the multi-stream portion of the frame. 26.The receiving device of claim 25, wherein the processor is configured toexamine a status indicator located in the signal field of the omniportion.
 27. The receiving device of claim 25, wherein the processor isconfigured to examine signal intensity of a subset of the signal fieldof the omni portion.
 28. The receiving device of claim 27, wherein theprocessor is configured to determine a modulation technique used for thesubset of the signal field.
 29. The receiving device of claim 25,wherein the receiving device is an IEEE 802.11ah station.